Interesting premise, well executed. Although it was very predictable I did enjoy reading it, but I do think I have maybe read too many thrillers to be surprised any more.

This is a tense, exciting book, the type that has your heart in your mouth throughout the read. As Holly remembered more and more about her ordeal I was almost breathless with anticipation. The truth when it finally came out left me stunned. A really strong read.

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher.  This is my own honest voluntary review.

I don't love multiple POV-type books and I like them even less when I'm unable to tell one character from the next. I often got confused because the voices were so similar.

A uniquely written story that is full of suspense and intrigue from the start. 
The plot is well structured and keeps the reader engrossed throughout. 
I really liked how this story brought the characters - mother and daughter especially - together, in order to try and solve this mystery. 
The characters were realistic and relatable, and their personalities added extra depth to an already fascinating story!.

Holly Gebhardt was kidnapped at the age of four from a park. Three months later she is returned to the same spot she was taken from. A man was arrested, found guilty and has spent his life since in prison. Holly never recalls any time from while she was taken.

Twenty-odd years later and another child has gone missing in freakishly similar circumstances. The police get in touch with Holly as it may be that the guy serving time was actually innocent of kidnapping Holly if it turns out to be the same person who has kidnapped the latest little girl. They think Holly can help them profile the real guy responsible. It turns out that eleven children have been taken in total, and suddenly everyone is a suspect, including Holly’s comatose mother.

Character – 3.5/10. I did not particularly like any of the characters in this book and, found their redeeming qualities to be quite minimal.

Atmosphere – 3/10. There just wasn’t very much of it. But, what was there in terms of where and how Holly was kept, as those memories started ‘flashing’ back, wasn’t badly done. It just wasn’t nearly enough.

Writing – 5/10. Quite simply, not bad but not brilliant. Pretty average. Not impossible to read but nothing special.

Plot – 3/10. I have read many books with a similar premise and this one, whilst being a bit of a mystery (although a predictable one), is certainly not a thriller. There were definite ‘eye roll’ moments as I was reading. Other books I have read like this, execute the plot much better. See the Shaye Archer books by Jana Daleon – because they are brilliant.

Intrigue – 4/10. Whilst the core plot of this book was entirely predictable and so lacking in any intrigue whatsoever, the little side stories and how they all wove together and formed part of the overall tapestry of the book and linked into the core plotline, was really good and so I gave points for that.

Logic – 3/10. The characters in this book are largely in the mess they are in because they make stupid, nonsensical choices throughout. I don’t mind a character making a stupid decision but learn from it!


Enjoyment – 3/10. Literally, barely enough to get me through the book. The only thing that stopped me from ‘DNFing’ this book was that I did want to see how all the separate pieces fit together.

This book was an amazing surprise with a great plot twist. Writing flows and it’s hard to put it down, the story is intriguing and keeps you interested all the way too the end.
If you like a good thriller or even if you don’t (like me), I would still recommend, this is a book for whoever likes a good story!

I completely enjoyed this twisting and turning novel.  I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for an awesome read.

Holly Gebhardt went missing when she was four years old and inexplicably returned to the same park she'd vanished from months later. Upon her return, Holly had no recollection of her three months gone and was physically unharmed. Even 20 years later, she still has no memory of her time missing. When another young girl disappears under similar circumstances, Holly is approached by Detective Guirdy for help, but Holly doesn't know how to help since she remembers almost nothing. Soon, pieces of the puzzle start to come together and Holly's memory comes back in small flashes. As the mystery starts to unravel, Holly is determined to finally figure out what happened to her and save the missing girl in the process.


I haven't read a book by Brandi Reeds before, so I was really excited to receive an advanced copy of The Day I Disappeared. What interested me about this book was its plot: I felt like it had a lot of potential plot- and character-wise. However, The Day I Disappeared fell short in terms of expectations. While I liked the writing and pace of the book, there was just way too much happening. The book felt extremely cramped as each character, major and minor, was used as a subplot to throw off the reader - but half of the characters didn't even matter, which made the book seem directionless at some points. Because of this, I wasn't very excited about the ending and felt like the entire book could've been trimmed down. While I didn't love this book and wouldn't recommend it, I did enjoy the way Brandi writes and I would read another one of her books. 


Thank you, Lake Union Publishing, for an advanced copy of The Day I Disappeared. 


2/5

A Good Read
I have never picked up a Brandi Reeds books until this one and I am very happy that Netgalley has put her on my radar. I am a big fan of thrillers and this truly fits the bill. This is a good read and definitely one of those books you can finish in one sitting like I did. 

In The Day I Disappeared, five-year-old Amy’s older brother was supposed to be watching her. Instead he was outside fishing. However, when he came home later, Amy was missing. A little bit of time later little Amy’s body is found drown and her brother never forgives himself. 

Holly was kidnapped as a child at the age of five. She was returned months later essentially unharmed. While Holly remembers nothing, she had a wound on her forearm and a missing tooth. One of her church members was convicted of the crime but the more I continued turning pages I am not sure about it at all.

Twenty years later, Detective Jason contacts Holly. He believes Holly is the first in a string of abductions and that she is the only hope of finding Skyler the latest victim alive and well. Only one of the ten was found alive Holly. 

Holly tries to help Jason, by trying to remember details of her own abduction. But with her mother stuck in a coma in the hospital, her best friend’s upcoming wedding, and her on-again-off-again relationship with her boyfriend, she already has a lot on her plate. 

The Day I Disappeared is an immensely twisty tale combining a serial child abductor story with some intense family drama. Both Holly and her best friend, Kitten, struggle with their relationships with their parents. While in a coma, Holly’s mother, Cecily, is also narrating part of the book. Which adds so much more dimension to the story I found myself enjoying the voice of Holly’s mom very much. Be prepared to dislike many of the characters, my least favorite is the best friend once you read it you will know why. Never Holly though she goes above and beyond to try and figure these abductions out not only for the little girls but for herself as well.

This was a great read, enjoyed it thoroughly, was hooked from the first page, loads of twists and turns, would recommend it x

A big thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for my gifted eARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review!

HOLY SCHMOLEY SPOOKALICIOUS. This is that true crime, multiple guilty suspects, nightmare inducing story I have been searching for (what does that say about me?). For ages I have been looking for a story that can parallel the true crime podcasts story I hear, that can actually keep this perceptive gal guessing, while making me a little scared of the dark again. Cue "The Day I Disappeared" by Brandi Reeds, my first read of her books, but not the last.

Holly Gebhardt was kidnapped as young child and returned back to the same park wherefrom she was taken, with no memory of the incident, and seemingly fine. A handyman confessed to the crime, and was convicted, but twenty years later, strange circumstances begin to arise making everyone question if the true criminal was convicted. 

More young girls in eerily similar circumstances go missing, and the police look to Holly to help put together the pieces. Holly's memory is patchy at best, and weird things begin happening in her life as well. Her loved ones are worried, she is stressed, and it all just progressively goes down hill from here --- but I won't spoil any of the fun.

I will say: CREEPY DOLLS

This was a book that had me eagerly tapping my kindle next (aka the digital page flip), eager to find out who and what was causing such chaos, so I could sleep in peace. Fair warning, I 100% did have two nightmares from this book, which typically only happens for me with a creepily believable tale. SO GO READ IT, IF YOU DARE! *cue maniacal laughter*

Author # Brandi Reeds has a new novel #' The Day I Disappeared'. A novel that will keep you in suspense. This brings a mother and daughter together to try and solve this mystery.
Thank you,
#Netgalley, # Brandi Reeds and # Lake Union Publishing for the advanced copy

The story is about a 4 year old girl, Holly, that’s is kidnapped, but returned to her parents with no memory of what happened to her. 

20 years later, a similar abduction occurs abs the police they made a mistake with the conviction they made and that the real culprit it on the loose.

Holly is asked to help the police, resulting in her trying to dig up suppressed and forgotten memories before the missing girl in question turns up dead. 

The story is  told from Holly's perspective, but as the reader we hear of past events from her mother. 

This twisty story will have you reading on to find out what is going on, but not in the devouring sense.

I’d give this book 3.5 stars.  

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange exchange for an honest review.

Although I eventually enjoyed this book it took me a little while to "get into" it,  I felt it was very predictable.  Still it was a good book.

I liked this book though it was predictable somewhere through the middle of the plot. The writing was good and so was the character delvelopment.

I wasn't expecting to blow through this in a day.  It wasn't even that it super suspenseful because it wasn't, it was actually fairly predictable, but something about it just kinda sucked me in.  Holly goes missing from a park at the age of 4, 94 days later she shows back up at the park she was taken from unharmed and with no memory of what happened.  The story follows Holly as she navigates "echoes" from her past and how they are tied to the here and now, and switches to the perspective of her mom as she was going through the whole ordeal.

I received this book "The Day I Disappeared" from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own. Although a bit predictible it was still a good story. Took a little bit of time also to get into the storyline. Overall an interesting read.

I’ve been on a kick with “troubled woman who can’t remember her mysterious past is stalked by an unknown villain” stories lately. I read The Day I Disappeared in two sittings, and I read the last 75% all at once. I HAD to know what happened! I had a suspect in mind, but after the author debunked that theory I had no clue who the bad guy was until the very end. I would recommend this book for people who enjoy Gone Girl, Girl On The Train, and any thriller they sell at Target.

I’m not a huge fan of thrillers - they send to cause me more anxiety than reading should.  ;) But the description of this one on Netgalley suckered me in.  I really enjoyed meeting these characters and learning about their relationships.  The relationship between Holly and her mother was especially interesting - how in the world does a mother continue a “normal” life after her child has been kidnapped?  This novel kept me guessing almost until the end and I definitely recommend it if you’re looking for something in the thriller category.